Japan: Central Minimum Wage Council recommends ¥1,176 national average for FY2026

On 28 July 2026, the Central Minimum Wage Council (中央最低賃金審議会) under the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) issued its FY2026 “meyasu” (guideline) recommending a national weighted-average minimum wage of ¥1,176/hour if prefectures follow the guideline, an increase of ¥55 (4.9%) over the current national weighted average. The guideline increases are ¥54 for Rank A, ¥56 for Rank B and ¥56 for Rank C. Prefectural minimum wage councils will now deliberate and determine the final binding regional rates, with effective dates varying by prefecture and expected to begin from October 2026.

Effective Date

• From October 2026, depending on the prefecture’s final decision and effective date

Published

• 28 July 2026

Payroll action

• Model the applicable FY2026 minimum-wage increase for each prefecture into October 2026 payroll and workforce cost forecasts.
• Monitor each prefectural labour bureau’s final rate and effective date before locking payroll configuration; do not assume the national ¥1,176 figure or the ¥55 increase will apply uniformly across all prefectures.
• Re-test hourly-equivalent pay for salaried and part-time workers whose compensation is close to the applicable regional minimum wage.

go.jp